Monday, February 4, 2013

The new Macabees

In 1896, Theodor Herzl, the father of modern Zionism published a pamphlet, The Jewish State, and concluded it with these following prophetic words: "Therefore I believe that a wondrous breed of Jews will spring up from the earth. The Maccabees will rise again."

The dream of Herzl has become a reality, as the state of the Jewish people not only survives, but thrives. The life expectancy of an Israeli is 81.5 years- among the highest in the world. Israel's army is strong, and its people are as well.

Israel's judo team won two medals Sunday in the World Judo
Championship games being held in Tbilisi, Georgia. Ori Sasson won a gold
medal for his performance in the 100 kilo and under group, and Assaf
Chen won a bronze medal for his performance in the 81 kilo group.

Chen beat competitors from Russia, Armenia
and Hungary to get to his medal, but was unable to progress further; he
had been scheduled to fight against an Iranian judo expert, who refused
to enter the ring when he found
out he was scheduled to fight an Israeli. Similarly, Sasson's award was
marred by a another Iranian's intransigent refusal to have anything to
do with Israel; an Iranian who was set to receive a bronze chose to
forgo the honor, rather than get on stage with an Israeli to get the
prize.Also winning a gold medal in an earlier contest was Israel's Sagi Muki.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, Israeli team coach Oren Smadja said that “it is a shame that the Iranians mix politics with sports.
Our team is prepared to face any challengers, any time and any place.”
He added that he was very proud of the team. “Three medals at a world
championship are a testimony to the hard work this team has put in. I am
pleased with these results,” he added.